I have a question regarding a penalty fee from SBB.

Chubbimidnightrrr

Last Friday (April 25), I received a 100 CHF fine because I bought my train ticket a few minutes late. The problem was with the SBB application. I couldn’t buy the ticket at first, so I had to delete and reinstall the app. It took me around 3 minutes after the train departed to successfully buy a ticket (for the next available train). I thought this would be okay.

I’m still new to how things work in Switzerland, and I had no intention of traveling without a valid ticket. After this happened, I submitted the online appeal form and tried calling several times, but couldn’t get through.

I’m a student and can’t afford the 100 CHF fine.
Has anyone had a similar experience?
Is there any way to reduce the fine or request a payment plan?

Thank you for any advice!

RolandP

Hello Chubbimidnightrrr

I submitted the online appeal form

You cannot do anything else than wait for their response. And then ask for a finance plan.

Kindly note: a technical issue with the app is not an excuse for not having a valid ticket. You must not get on board a public transit service if you are not yet in the possession of a valid ticket.

If it does not work with your mobile phone, for whatever reason, you must purchase a ticket from the ticket vending machine. The reason for the malfunction might not necessarily be located with SBB, it can well be your phone, a VPN application, the cell phone network, or a weak GPS signal.

Even in the event of a global technical issue with the SBB Mobile app concerning all passengers, you still have to get yourself a ticket using another sales channel.

It is certainly helpful if you purchase the ticket a bit in advance and not at the very last minute. Normally, you know that you will want to take the train, it is not something that happens out of a sudden; thus, all you need is preparation work.

https://www.sbb.ch/en/help-and-contact/products-services/apps/sbb-mobile-sbb-preview/sbb-mobile-app.html

Kind regards,
Roland

Chubbimidnightrrr

RolandP I also apologize for my actions. I did not intend to avoid purchasing a ticket. I tried to buy the ticket before the train arrived. If I had to purchase the ticket from the ticket machine, I might have missed this train. Thank you for your response.

Krist

Before we had the option to buy a ticket on the phone you had to do it using a ticket vending machine, or at the ticket office. And you had to plan enough time for that. The fact that you can now easily buy a ticket up to the last minute with your phone does not mean that you now no longer have to plan enough time to get your ticket.

You can get the ticket with your phone before you leave your house for example, that way you know that you have the ticket when you board.

Chubbimidnightrrr

Krist I sincerely apologize, I didn’t know the rules of the trains in Switzerland very well, and I thought I could just buy a ticket for the next train since I would be paying anyway

Krist

The rule in Switzerland is that you must have your ticket before you board. In some countries it is not even possible to buy a train ticket for a train whose departure is imminent. In Italy for example you have to buy your electronic ticket at least 5 minutes before departure.

In Switzerland you can still buy up to the moment of departure, but there is no rule that says that waiting till the last moment is a good idea…